The Night of the Scissors

About

"The Night of the Scissors" is a survival horror game inspired by 80s VHS slasher movies and classic PSX titles. You play as Adam, an explorer of an abandoned post office, where a deadly maniac with scissors is hiding. With a focus on stealth and tension, you must navigate through the eerie setting, hiding in wardrobes, stalls, and more to evade your pursuer. The game also offers an optional third-person viewpoint and a chilling VHS-style visual experience. Can you survive the night and uncover the post office's secrets?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 380 reviews

atmosphere16 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game effectively captures the retro PS1 horror aesthetic, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
It delivers a tense atmosphere with solid sound design, creating genuine moments of fear and excitement.
Despite its short length, the game is engaging and well worth the low price, making it a fun experience for horror enthusiasts.

The game is extremely short, often completed in under 30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content.
The tank controls can be clunky and difficult to master, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
There is minimal replay value, as the game lacks collectibles and deeper story elements to encourage multiple playthroughs.

atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, effectively utilizing sound cues and level design to enhance tension and engagement. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to build a terrifying environment without relying on cheap scares, making it a standout in the indie horror genre. While some noted a lack of soundtrack, the overall ambiance, including elements like VHS filters and environmental storytelling, contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “With its immersive atmosphere, this indie horror gem proves to be a standout in the genre.”
- “The game nailed the atmosphere with an abandoned post office, VHS filters, and the soft snipping of the scissors when the killer's near.”
- “It avoids the temptations of jumpscares and cheap thrills for a tight, little story with a really creepy atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is creepy.”
- “My only criticism in terms of atmosphere would be a lack of soundtrack.”
- “The game nailed the atmosphere with abandoned post office, VHS filters, and the soft snipping of the scissors when the killer's near.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
8%
The graphics of the game are celebrated for their nostalgic PS1 and VHS aesthetic, effectively creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in both visuals and sound design, which evoke a sense of nostalgia while embracing the limitations of retro graphics. Overall, the art style and cinematography resonate well with fans of classic horror games, making it a compelling throwback to the genre's roots.
- “The attention to detail in both the visuals and sound design creates a truly terrifying environment that will haunt your dreams long after you've finished playing.”
- “As a fan of old school graphics and slasher movies, this game immediately appealed to me.”
- “Low quality graphics?”
- “But retro horror games didn’t have the luxury of convincing, eye-popping visuals or other resources that are standard in the gaming industry today, just as slasher films didn’t get the A-list actors or the best writers.”
- “Playstation 1 era graphics, an eerie, lonely setting and the clever use of scarce, but impactful sounds makes for an awesome horror experience.”
story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
65%
12%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and not the main focus, with many reviewers noting its brevity and lack of depth. However, it is described as having a clever plot twist and a quirky, atmospheric narrative that evokes a campfire story or urban legend feel. While some found the story mediocre, it still contributed to an enjoyable and nostalgic experience for fans of old-school horror games.
- “On the positive side, it's well done and the plot twist was clever.”
- “It had a fun and quirky little story to unfold, in a fast-paced hide or die gameplay.”
- “It avoids the temptations of jumpscares and cheap thrills for a tight, little story with a really creepy atmosphere.”
- “And with all of these frustrations, and the lack of story, I still enjoy this game.”
- “This is not a large story-driven narrative, nor is it intended to be.”
- “Storywise it was mediocre, but that didn't make me lose my interest in the game as it was very atmospheric.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
The gameplay is characterized as fun and engaging, albeit short, with a focus on stealth and tension that enhances the horror experience. Players appreciate the variety within the limited gameplay, though the absence of an inventory or save system detracts from traditional survival horror elements. Overall, the mechanics are simple yet effective, providing a creepy atmosphere that keeps players on edge.
- “This is short but still has some variety to its gameplay.”
- “It was short but that doesn’t take away from the great gameplay of stealth and panic.”
- “Tense and creepy, the short gameplay accounts for the low price, but the game itself is pretty good.”
- “This brings me to my next point: there's no inventory or save system which means there's no item management or saving as a mechanic, two of the pillars of classic survival horror.”
- “I felt a sense of dread as soon as the hiding mechanic was introduced despite barely using the hiding spots, opting to wait in the dark and watch the killer walk past instead (yes, I did die several times lol).”
- “Now, the gameplay is fairly simple and the justification for our protagonist’s being there in the first place is sufficient.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with particular praise for the end credits song by "skulptur," which many found catchy and enjoyable. However, players noted a lack of a consistent soundtrack throughout the game, with music primarily featured during the credits, leading to a less immersive atmosphere. While the sound effects, particularly the scissors, were criticized for being underwhelming, the intense music and sound design effectively created moments of dread during encounters with the enemy.
- “There's also a similar feeling of dread and suspense as you hear loud noise, intense music, and distinct voice lines from the killer when you encounter it.”
- “The credit song by 'skulptur' is a bop!!!”
- “And there's clearly musical talent there because that song in the credits absolutely slapped, as the kids say.”
- “The only time music played was during the credits, and the credits took quite a long time with so little text. I guess you gotta use the song to its fullest.”
- “My only criticism in terms of atmosphere would be a lack of soundtrack.”
- “The first few times this enemy appears, it does feel scary mostly due to the volume and nature of the music and sound effects, but he suddenly becomes a slight nuisance more than something to be scared of.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its campy elements, such as tank controls and PS1-era graphics, which create a juxtaposition between tension and absurdity. While the Scissor Man initially seems comical, the combination of his menacing presence and the quirky character movements adds an unexpected layer of humor, making the experience both tense and amusing. Overall, the game successfully blends horror and humor, resulting in a uniquely entertaining adventure.
- “The tank controls, the PS1-era graphics, the ridiculous bagged murderer... should all lead to a campy, funny adventure.”
- “The scissors snipping at you is great for building tension until it just becomes inherently funny.”
- “Controlling the character was kinda weird, but I actually found it funny the way he moves.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is noted for its short duration, typically completed in about 15 minutes, resulting in minimal replayability unless players are focused on achievement hunting. While some users found value in experimenting with different camera angles, the overall consensus is that there are more substantial indie horror games available for the same price.
- “However, you can fly through this in 15 minutes and after that there is no replay value whatsoever... (save for some Halloween exclusive achievements...) and for the price you pay, there are far longer indie horror games out there that are of a good standard.”
- “I found it interesting to replay it with a different camera angle, but beyond that there wasn't much in the way of replayability.”
- “Quite short with little replay value (unless achievement hunting).”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, expressing a range of intense feelings such as joy, frustration, and triumph throughout their gameplay. The game's ability to evoke such strong reactions highlights its impactful storytelling and engaging mechanics.
- “I screamed, I cried, I got furious, and I won!”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users praise the game's stability, highlighting its lack of glitches and bugs, which contributes to a smooth gaming experience. This reliability has led to positive recommendations from players.
- “I would give it a recommendation, just for nailing the style so well and being glitch and bug free!”